CHILDREN with special needs in Liverpool are getting a new centre worth more than #1.2m.

CHILDREN with special needs in Liverpool are getting a new centre worth more than #1.2m.

Greenways Assessment School will be moving from its Otterspool home to share the Matthew Arnold primary school site in Dingle.

Colette O'Brien, Liverpool council's special educational needs project manager, explained: "We see this as an opportunity to promote inclusion by putting the assessment centre next to a mainstream school."

Greenways, Beechwood Road, works with children from three to seven with special needs from physical problems to autism and assesses what type of school would be best for them.

They usually spend a minimum of two school terms there, but some stay longer for more detailed assessment.

Dorothy Williams, head of Greenways, said: "Moving will be a bit of a culture shock, because we have lovely grounds here, but our facilities are not up to it so we're very excited about the move.

"We have 25 children, but the new facilities will have space for 30 with four big classrooms and we will be sharing some facilities with Matthew Arnold so the children will all be able to mix."

Gary Mason, head of Matthew Arnold, Dingle Lane, believes the move will be an excellent opportunity for the whole community.

He said: "We are trying to put together a package of educational opportunities from the cradle to the grave.

"Shorefields secondary school, across the road from us, is developing its adult education classes and we have a new neighbourhood nursery opening in February 2004.

"We also have a specialist language unit here at the school, one of only three in the city, for children with speech disorders, so Greenways will be a wonderful addition."

Liverpool council has successfully bid for #1.2m from the Department for Education and Skills but Councillor Paul Clein, executive member for education, says the council will be putting in cash too.

If all the details are agreed by the executive board on Friday, the move is expected to take place on August 31, 2005.